Orthopedic cushion.



L. DE O. DEOL.

ORTHOPEDIC CUSHION.

APPLICATION msu MAY15.1915.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.Y

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ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE.

` LOUIS DE OLIVA DEOL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

OBTHOPEDIC CUSHION.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 21, 1915.

Application led May 15, 1916. Seriallo. 28,374.

T0 all whom 'it may concern kBe it known that I, LoUIs DE OLIVA DE01.,

` a citizen of Argentina, and a resident 0f the softening'the jar incident to the operationl of walking;v to provide means concealed within the shoe forincreasing the apparent height of a human being; to correct the manner of walking' of the wearer; and to form a comfortable andl natural support for the arch of the foot.

DrawngaFigure 1 is a side edge v1ew of a cushion constructed and arranged in accordance with the ,present invention, said cushion being shown in conjunction with a shoe and the outline of a human foot, and as under compression; Fig. 2 is a cross section taken as on theline 2-f2'in Fig. 1, .the

vew showing the cushion as under service compression; Fig. 3 is an edge view of the cushion shown as detached from a shoe;

. Fig. 4'is a longitudinal section taken as on es; y ..fshowigthe .reinforce with which the the vline 4-4 1n Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, the difference being that the cushion is not under compression and Fig. 6 is a detail view cushion is vprovided for sti'ening the side "walls" thereof.

slightly in advance ofthe toes.

AIDescw'; tima-As shown in the drawings, vth efcush1on 12 is hollow, the walls thereof Abein p made to form. a closed chamber 13, the evice extending from a point at the rear ofthe heel of the wearer to a point As seen best in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the cushion is particularly thick from the arch 14 back-4 ward tothe rear of the heel 15, the maximum thickness of this ortion of the cushion being approximately t e same.- Forward of the arch 14 is a sloping and relatively thinner portion 16. l

From the foregoing and by observation of the drawings, it will be seen that the rear portion of the cushion is much thicker than the forward portion, 4the intention being to lift 'the heel of the wearer to produce that Newl York, have effect which is generally known as being slightly on tip-toe. The immediate result of supporting the body of the'wearer on an apphance so constructed is to provide an orthopedically shaped, resilient surface for a normal human foot to rest upon, thereby adding greatly to the well-being of the nervous system of the wearer and the 'general well-being of his entire body; and also to increase the apparent height of the wearer without increasing the height of the heel of the shoe. The latter method of increasing the apparent height of the person is so obvious as to draw a certain amount of odium on the wearer.

As best seen-in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the side walls of the rear portion of the cushion are either'thick or else are reinforced, this being preferably accomplished by incorporating in the side wall structure a strengthening material 19y stiffer-'than the material forming the side wall of the cushion. The result of such construction is that, when the weight of the foot'is transferred to the cushion, the strengthening material 19 of the side walls thereof restrains the cushion from collapsing, thereby imparting a firmer rest and tread to" thepfoot. y

With the cushion 'constructed and arranged as shown in the accompanying drawings and as herein u"described, the air in the chamber 13 is """lasti'ngly inclosed. When the shoe equipped with the cushion is placed on the foot, the air within the chamber 13 is relatively cool, 'and the dimensions of the cushion are normal. When the foot is placed within the shoe, to rest upon the cushion, the air becomes warmer, and slightly expands said cushion.l This action ofthe air in the cushionl results in conformillfllg the foot more neatly and closely to the s oe.

As shown best in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings, the arch 14 is shapedto fit beneath the hollow of the instep of the foot. Normally, when the weight-of the person is deposited on the cushion within the shoe, the cushion is depressed most under what may be termed the bony structure of the foot, particularly under the heel and along the outer edge of the foot. The immediate eifect of this action is to partially transfer the air from these portions of the cushion to-increase the volume below the arch of the foot, where the flesh is softer and more low below the instep of the foot, or What may be termed the arch of the foot, is comfortably and naturally supported. At no time is the arch, when thus supported, called upon to bear a disproportioned part of the Weight of the body, as so often koccurs in what is termed mechanical arch supports.

From `the foregoing it Will be seen that by decreasing or increasing the thickness of the arch and heel of the cushion, the apparent height of the' person may be correspondingly varied. Also, it is obvious that, as the cushion is concealed Within the shoe, the odium attached to the employment of a mechanical help for this purpose, is avoided.

Claims:

1. A device as characterized which may be attached to the shoe if desired, comprising an air-filled cushion having continuous, yielding walls, said cushion having a relatively thin forward portion and a relatively thick rear portion, the side Walls of said rear portion being reinforced to restrain the same from collapsing vertically.

2. As an article oi manufacture, a device as characterized having a yielding Wall forming an air-filled chamber, being arranged to form a relatively thin forward portion and a relatively thick rear portion, said rear portion having at the inner edge of said device a raised portion to fit beneath, for supporting, the arch of the foot, and vertical Walls for said rear portion said walls being strengthened to restrain the crushing efect thereon.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribin Witnesses.

L ULS DE @LIVA DEOL.

Witnesses:

FRANK J. GUNNER, HENRY W. SCHNEIDER. 

